Sexual violence often increases in disasters. After a disaster, housing may be destroyed and people may not have jobs to go to. Police officers and the legal system have many things to respond to. Disasters take away community resources. In these situations, it’s easier for a person to perpetrate sexual violence. It also puts people at greater risk of experiencing sexual violence. People who tend to have less social power, like older adults, people with disabilities, or people struggling with poverty, face even higher risk for violence during a disaster.

The NSVRC provides information and resources to assist organizations and communities in preventing and responding to sexual violence during and after disasters. Learn more below about the NSVRC’s publications and online resources, and the Relief Fund for Sexual Assault Victims.

This site is supported by Grant/ Cooperative Agreement No. 1UF2CE002359-02 from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Its contents are solely the responsibility of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official views of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.